Adjustable window guard



Dec. 30, 1958 E. LAMB 2,866,238

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW GUARD Filed March 26, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 1 Fig./

Lamb

INVENTOR.

/6 Fig.2 7 I a BY MF-M Dec. 30, 1958 L. E. LAMB ADJUSTABLE WINDOW GUARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1956 VIIA.

Lewis E. L amb INVENTOR.

2,866,238 ADJUSTABLE WINDOW'GUARD Lewis E. Lamb, North Little Rock, Ark. Application March 26, 1956, Serial No. 573,997 Claims. (Cl. 20-71) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in guard devices, and more specifically to an improved adjustable window guard for use in combination with double hung windows.

One of the major problems of mass producing window guards is to provide a window guard which will fit all sizes of Window openings within a general range. Further, another diificult feature of window guards is to provide a window guard which is of such a nature whereby it may quickly and easily attached to a window with a minimum of changes in the construction of the window frame.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved adjustable window guard which is so constructed whereby there may be provided guard sections and mounting brackets which are adjustably connected together and extensible so as to fit window openings of various dimensions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved window guard construction which is of such a nature whereby it may be jammed between the frame rails of a window frame without deforming the window frame, the mounting brackets of the window guard being receivable in the guideways for the uppermost window sash.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved connection between a mounting bracket and a guard section, the connection being of such a nature whereby it is easily releasable and at the same time, is permanent as long as the window guards are locked with respect to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved latch means for window guard sections, the latch means being of such a nature whereby the guard sections are urged apart to wedge them in a window frame and are connected together to form a temporary rigid unit.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a lower portion of a conventional type of double hung window and shows mounted therein the window guard which is the subject of this invention, an upper portion of one of the mounting brackets of the window guard being shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the connection between the mounting bracket and an extension thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the specific arrangement of the various parts of the window guard including the general details of the latch means thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the general relationship between a mounting bracket of the window guard and the window frame, also being illustrated is the connection between the mounting bracket and an extension thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows the detail of the adjustable connection between one of the guard sections and its associated mounting bracket;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 4 and shows the details of the connection of Figure 4 including the specific structure of the fastener forming a major part of the connection;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 3 and shows the specific details of the latch means, a lock of the latch means being shown in inoperative position by solid lines and an operative position by dotted lines;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the connection between the other one of the window guard sections and its associated mounting bracket; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figure 4 and shows the details of the connection of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conventional type of double hung window which is referred to in general by the reference numeral fail. The double hung window it includes a window frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12, the Window frame 12 including vertical frame rails 14 and a lower sash l6. Mounted within the window frame 12 for vertical sliding movement is a lower sash l8 and an upper sash Zti.

It is the intention of this invention to provide a suitable window guard which is to protect the lower sash 18. The window guard is referred to in general by the reference numeral 22 and includes a pair of guard section 24 and 26. Associated with the guard sections 24- and 26 and forming a part of the window guard 22 are mounting brackets 28 and 30, respectively.

The guard section 24 includes a pair of vertical bars 32 and 34 which are connected together adjacent their upper ends by a transverse bar 36. The upper end of the bar 32 is also coiled, as at 38, and secured to the bar 34 above the connection of the bar 36 thereto.

Extending outwardly from the bar 32 in alignment with the bar 36 is a connecting bar 40. A similar connecting bar 42 extends outwardly from the lower portion of the bar 32.

The mounting bracket 28 includes an elongated vertical member 44 which is of a general channel-shaped crosssection, the channel opposing the frame rail 14 and the vertical member 44 being in face abutting engagement therewith, as is best illustrated in Figure 2. Secured to the inner surface of the vertical member 44 and projecting inwardly therefrom is a horizontally disposed sleeve 46 in which is telescoped the outer portion of the bar 42. A similar sleeve 48 is secured to the upper portion of the vertical member 44 and has telescoped therein the outer portion of the bar 40. The sleeve 48 is braced relative to the vertical member 44 by an ornamental element 50.

Inasmuch as the connection between the sleeve 48 and the bar an is identical with the connection between the sleeve 46 and the bar 42, only theconnection between the sleeve 48 and the bar 40 will be described in detail. Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it will be seen that the inner end portion of the sleeve 48 is provided with vertical aligned slots 52 in which is received a double headed fastener 54. The fastener 54 may be formed integral, or it may be in the form of telescoping elements, such as is best illustrated in Figure 5. The central portion of the fastener 54 is also received in one of a plurality of slots 56 formed in the bar 40. It is to be understood that the slots 52 and 56 are of a keyhole configuration for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring once again to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the guard section 26 is very similar in configuration to the configuration of the guard section 24 and includes spaced bars 58 and 60 which are vertically disposed and connected together by a transverse bar 62 adjacent their upper ends. The upper ends of the bar 60 are rolled, as at 64, and connected to the upper portion of the bar 58. Extending outwardly from the bar 60 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof are horizontal bars 66 and 68, respectively.

It is to be understood that the mounting bracket 30 is identical with the mounting bracket 28 and includes sleeves 46 and 48, the sleeve 48 being reinforced relative to the vertical member 44 by an ornamental element 50.

Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, it will be seen that the connection between the bar 68 and the sleeve 46 is substantially identical to that described above relative to the bars 40 and 42 and their respective sleeves 48 and 46. The bar 68 is provided with a plurality of keyhole slots 70 and is telescoped within the inner end of the sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 is of a rectangular cross-section and has formed in the inner end portion thereof vertically aligned keyhole slots 72. It is to be noted that the keyhole slots 70 and 72 face in opposite directions and are so disposed that when the enlarged portions thereof are aligned, the head of a doubleheaded fastener 54 may pass therethrough. Then, when the bar 68 is further telescoped into the sleeve 46, the shank portion of the double headed fastener 54 is locked within the reduced portions of the keyhole slots 70 and 72 so as to prevent removal of the fastener 54.

In order that the guard sections 24 and 26 may be secured together as a unit, there is provided suitable latch means which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 74. The latch means 74 includes a pair of spaced parallel bars 76 which are best illustrated in Figures 2 and 6. The bars 76 are connected to the bar 32 of the guard section 24 by a horizontal pivot pin 78 and straddle the guard section 24. Carried by the bar 34 in alignment with the pivot pin 78 are saddles 80, the saddles 80 being disposed on opposite sides of the bar 34 and receiving the bar 76.

The bars 76 also straddle the guard section 26 and are seated in saddles 82 formed on opposite sides of the bar 58.

In order that the bars 76 may be rigidly connected to the guard section 26, there is carried by the bar 60 thereof a lock assembly 84 which includes a pivotally mounted lock plate 86. The lock plate 86 is of a size to be received between the bars 76 when in an inoperative position, as is best illustrated in Figure 6. The ends of the bars 76 remote from the pivot pin 78 are provided with longitudinal slots 88 which receive the plate 86 when it is in a transverse position, such as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 6. When the plate 86 has been rotated to its transverse position, it prevents movement of the bars 76 with respect to the guard section 26 so as to lock the guard section 26 with respect to the guard section 24.

In order that the bars 40, 42, 66 and 68 may be urged outwardly into further telescoping relation with their respective sleeves to prevent removal of the double headed fasteners 54, there is provided suitable means for forcing the guard sections 24 and 26 apart. The means includes a threaded bolt member 90 which is rigidly secured to the bar 58 and which extends towards the guard section 4 24. Threadedly engaged on the bolt is an elongated nut 92. The nut 92 is engaged with a transverse member 94 extending between the bars 76 intermediate the guard sections 24 and 26.

After the mounting brackets 28 and 30 have been properly positioned with respect to the frame rails 14, and the bars 76 have been locked in position by the lock 84, the guard sections 24 and 26 are wedged apart by rotating the nut 92. After the nut 92 has been moved to its wedging position, it is rigidly secured to the bolt 98 by suitable fastening means, such as welding 96.

In order to prevent vertical movement of the guard 22, the vertical members 44 of the mounting brackets 28 and 30 are provided with extensions which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 98. Each of the extensions 98 includes an elongated vertical leg. which is seated in the channel of the vertical member 44. Each extension 98 also includes a horizontal leg 102 which is selectively received in a plurality of slots 104 formed in the end portions of the vertical members 44 whereby the over-all effective length of the mounting brackets 28 and 30 may be varied as desired.

The extensions 98 are secured to the vertical members 44 by pins 106 seated in the horizontal legs 102 thereof and preventing their withdrawal. It is to be understood that the extensions 98 are to be so positioned with respect to the vertical members 44 that the extensions, as closely as possible, abut the sill 16 and the lower rail of the upper sash 20.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised an adjustable window guard which is of such a construction whereby it may be wedgingly positioned within a window frame in such a manner that fasteners securing the guard directly to the window frame may be omitted, if desired. Further, it will be readily apparent that the window guard may be adjusted to fit a plurality of different sized window openings, due to the adjustability thereof. Also, the construction of the window guard is of such a nature that only a minor number of different parts need be stocked.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An adjustable window guard comprising a pair of guard sections, a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, an extensible transverse connection between each mounting bracket and an associated one of said guard sections, latch means connecting said guard sections together, said mounting brackets being provided with adjustable longitudinal extensions for engagement with a window frame sill and a sill of an upper window sash.

2. An adjustable window guard comprising a pair of guard sections, a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, an adjustable connection between each mounting bracket and an associated one of said guard sections, latch means connecting said guard sections together, said mounting brackets being provided with adjustable extensions for engagement with a window frame sill and a sill of an upper window sash, asid mounting brackets being channel-shaped in cross-section, said extensions being L-shaped and each including a vertical leg seated in an associated one of said mounting brackets, and a horizontal leg selectively received in one of a plurality of slots in an adjacent end portion of said one mounting bracket.

3. An adjustable window guard comprising a pair of guard sections, a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, an adjustable connection between each mounting bracket and an associated one of said guard sections, latch means connecting said guard sections together, said latch means including a pair of spaced parallel bars pivotally carried by one of said guard sections and straddling the other of said guard sections, lock means carried by said other guard section securing said said bars to said other guard section, wedge means carried by said other guard section and cooperating with said bars to wedge said guard sections apart, said wedge means including a bolt member secured to said other guard section and an elongated nut member adjustably carried by said bolt member.

4. An adjustable window guard comprising a pair of guard sections, a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, an adjustable connection between each mounting bracket and an associated one of said guard sections, latch means connecting said guard sections together, said adjustable connection including at least one sleeve on each mounting bracket and a bar on an adjacent guard section adjustably telescoping in said sleeve, said sleeve being of a generally rectangular cross-section and having keyhole slots therethrough, op-

positely facing keyhole slots in said bar, a fastener removably received in a pair of aligned slots.

5. An adjustable window guard comprising a pair of guard sections, a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, an adjustable connection between each mounting bracket and an associated one of said guard sections, latch means connecting said guard sections together, said adjustable connecting including at least one sleeve on each mounting bracket and a bar on an adjacent guard section adjustably telescoping in said sleeve, said sleeve being of a generally rectangular cross-section and having keyhole slots therethrough, oppositely facing keyhole slots in said bar, a fastener removably received in a pair of aligned slots, said latch means including means urging said guard sections towards said mounting brackets to retain said fasteners in said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 942,067 Heidt Dec. 7, 1909 1,465,443 Josler Aug. 21, 1923 1,715,208 Micklin May 28, 1929 2,479,123 Lamb Aug. 16, 1949 

